Proverbs 27-29

Good morning! Here we have another day of readings from Proverbs (27-29), and another wearisome reference to a “contentious wife”. We also find some curious passages that lead one to wonder about the specific situations that led to them, including Proverbs 27:14, “Whoever blesses a neighbor with a loud voice, rising early in the morning, will be counted as cursing.” A short story about that encounter practically writes itself.

However, if there’s one overarching theme of these chapters that sticks out to me, it’s the frequent mention of how one might successfully rule a people. The ideal fitness of a ruler includes intelligence, restraint, righteousness, discernment of the truth, and compassion for the poor. Monarchs execute justice even-handedly and thereby help stabilize a nation, whereas strong-armed extortion from the people destroys the fabric of a community. The best rulers exemplify the wisdom commended for every person in these proverbs. On the flip side, poor rulers cannot build consensus, lack understanding, and behave “like a roaring lion or a charging bear” (28:15). There’s certainly much to consider in light of our political situation today, but I’ll model restraint and leave that to you. Happy reading!